Banyana call-ups for Silindile and Katlego

Updated: October 10, 2012

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza has called up Durban Ladies striker Silindile Ngubane and High Performance Centre (Tshwane) goalkeeper Katlego Moletsane to the national senior women’s team that will do duty at the 8th CAF African Women Championship 2012 in Equatorial Guinea later this month.

Ngubane, who found the back of the net on 11 occasion for Durban Ladies at the Sasol League National Championships held in Umlazi, near Durban in July, and goalkeeper Moletsane ÔÇô back-up for regular No1 Thoko Mndaweni and young Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (Sasol League Gauteng) goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, are among the 21 names announced by the coach at Safa House, Nasrec on Tuesday.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A and will face hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on October 28, Senegal in Malabo on October 31, and will travel to the island city of Bata for their encounter with DR Congo on November 3.

A good run of form will see the South Africans play in the semi-finals in either Malabo or Bata on November 7, with the 3rd/4th place play-off and the title decider both scheduled for Malabo on November 11.

By November 11, Banyana Banyana could well have two new centurions in their midst, with inspirational midfielder Nompumelelo Nyandeni going to Equatorial Guinea on 96 caps and striker Portia Modise on 95 caps (having scored 72 goals for her country).

Experienced University of Johannesburg Ladies (Sasol League Gauteng) midfielder Yola Jafta returns to the Banyana Banyana team after missing the London Olympics due to injury.

ÔÇ£Banyana Banyana finished third at the CAF African Women Championship held in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg two years ago, and the ladies are determined to finish 2012 on a high note after having represented Africa at the Olympic Games in London,ÔÇØ said coach Mkhonza.

ÔÇ£Thanks to Safa and our team sponsor Sasol, we have been able to allow the players to be put through their paces in national training camps in Johannesburg this month, before we head off to prepare the team in hot climatic conditions in Yaound├®, Cameroon from October 17 to 25.ÔÇØ

Thereafter, the national team will leave Cameroon for Malabo to conclude their final preparations for the African women’s football showpiece event.

In congratulating the Banyana Banyana players on their selection, Safa CEO Robin Petersen said: ÔÇ£The selection of Silindile Ngubane to the Banyana Banyana team is a sign of the importance of the Sasol League and the Sasol League National Championships as a feeder of talent to the national side, and I would like to welcome her, as well as goalkeeper Katlego Moletsane to the national team.ÔÇØ

ÔÇ£May Banyana Banyana bring further pride to our football-crazy country as they look improve on their 2nd place position they achieved in Equatorial Guinea, 4 years ago by winning the tournament and bettering their both their CAF and FIFA rankings. Banyana Banyana are currently ranked 56th in the world and 4th in Africa.

Sasol Sponsorship Specialist, Football, Dumisani Mbokane added: ÔÇ£Sasol has watched with pride at the journey that the Banyana Banyana have made during our company’s four year sponsorship of the national senior women’s team and we are pleased to work hand in hand with Safa in creating platforms for the empowerment of women through football, which we view as a core part of nation building.ÔÇØ